Diane Marie Disney
Encyclopedia
Diane Disney Miller is the elder daughter of Walt Disney
and his wife Lillian Bounds Disney
. She had a younger sister, Sharon Mae Disney
, who was adopted by the Disneys in 1936, and who died in 1993. She and her husband, Ron W. Miller
, have seven children.
Ron W. Miller was CEO of The Walt Disney Company
until 1984, when Diane's cousin, Roy E. Disney
, supported Miller's ouster in favor of Michael Eisner
and Frank Wells.
In the early-1970s, the Millers purchased a vineyard in Napa Valley, California
. Their intention was to upgrade the property, replant to premium varietals, install new trellising and frost protection, but not to build or run a winery. Miller and her husband decided to construct their own winery in 1980. Since 1981, they have operated Silverado Vineyards Winery
on a tract of their Napa property.
Miller was instrumental in pushing ahead with the Walt Disney Concert Hall
in downtown Los Angeles. The project was initiated with a $50 million gift from Lillian Disney but got bogged down in wrangling over costs. Miller ensured the original design by Frank Gehry
went ahead, and Walt Disney Hall finally opened in 2004.
Miller read her father's original dedication fifty years later to the day at the birthday celebrations of Disneyland on July 17, 2005. Miller organized the development of The Walt Disney Family Museum
in the Presidio of San Francisco
. The museum opened in October, 2009.
Animation historian Michael Barrier
reports that Miller, in August 2007, sent a fax to a number of executives at the Walt Disney Company, denouncing Neal Gabler's
biography of Walt Disney published in 2006, titled Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination, as "a monstrous piece of libelous junk. My parents were not the people he creates in this book, and I cannot understand why all of you who aided and abetted Gabler in writing this book, and who praise it and promote it, can do so without suffering serious qualms."
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
and his wife Lillian Bounds Disney
Lillian Disney
Lillian Disney was the wife of Walt Disney. She was married to him from 1925 until his death in 1966.-Early years:...
. She had a younger sister, Sharon Mae Disney
Disney family
This page describes the family of Elias Disney , the father of Walter Elias "Walt" Disney.The family name, originally d'Isigny , is of Norman French derivation, coming from the canton of Isigny-sur-Mer. The Disneys, among others, descended from Normans who settled in Normandy around the 11th century...
, who was adopted by the Disneys in 1936, and who died in 1993. She and her husband, Ron W. Miller
Ron W. Miller
Ronald William "Ron" Miller is a former professional American football player, the son-in-law of Walt Disney, and a former president and CEO of what is now The Walt Disney Company.-Marriage and early career:...
, have seven children.
Ron W. Miller was CEO of The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
until 1984, when Diane's cousin, Roy E. Disney
Roy E. Disney
Roy Edward Disney, KCSG was a longtime senior executive for The Walt Disney Company, which his father Roy Oliver Disney and his uncle Walt Disney founded. At the time of his death he was a shareholder , and served as a consultant for the company and Director Emeritus for the Board of Directors...
, supported Miller's ouster in favor of Michael Eisner
Michael Eisner
Michael Dammann Eisner is an American businessman. He was the chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company from 1984 until 2005.-Early life:...
and Frank Wells.
In the early-1970s, the Millers purchased a vineyard in Napa Valley, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Their intention was to upgrade the property, replant to premium varietals, install new trellising and frost protection, but not to build or run a winery. Miller and her husband decided to construct their own winery in 1980. Since 1981, they have operated Silverado Vineyards Winery
Silverado Vineyards Winery
Silverado Vineyards is located east of Yountville, California in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley. Ron and Diane Miller chose to purchase land with existing vineyards in the mid-1970s after a long time romance with the Valley. Although the Millers' original intention was to only grow grapes,...
on a tract of their Napa property.
Miller was instrumental in pushing ahead with the Walt Disney Concert Hall
Walt Disney Concert Hall
The Walt Disney Concert Hall at 111 South Grand Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles, California is the fourth hall of the Los Angeles Music Center. Bounded by Hope Street, Grand Avenue, 1st and 2nd Streets, it seats 2,265 people and serves as the home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra and the...
in downtown Los Angeles. The project was initiated with a $50 million gift from Lillian Disney but got bogged down in wrangling over costs. Miller ensured the original design by Frank Gehry
Frank Gehry
Frank Owen Gehry, is a Canadian American Pritzker Prize-winning architect based in Los Angeles, California.His buildings, including his private residence, have become tourist attractions...
went ahead, and Walt Disney Hall finally opened in 2004.
Miller read her father's original dedication fifty years later to the day at the birthday celebrations of Disneyland on July 17, 2005. Miller organized the development of The Walt Disney Family Museum
The Walt Disney Family Museum
The Walt Disney Family Museum is an American museum that features the life and legacy of Walt Disney. The museum is located in The Presidio of San Francisco, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in San Francisco. The Museum retrofitted and expanded three existing historic buildings on...
in the Presidio of San Francisco
Presidio of San Francisco
The Presidio of San Francisco is a park on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula in San Francisco, California, within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area...
. The museum opened in October, 2009.
Animation historian Michael Barrier
Michael Barrier (historian)
Michael Barrier is an American animation historian. Barrier was the founder and editor of Funnyworld, the first magazine exclusively devoted to comics and animation. It began as a contribution to the CAPA-Alpha amateur press association...
reports that Miller, in August 2007, sent a fax to a number of executives at the Walt Disney Company, denouncing Neal Gabler's
Neal Gabler
Neal Gabler is a professor, journalist, author, film critic and political commentator.He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Michigan and holds advanced degrees in film and American culture.-Journalist:...
biography of Walt Disney published in 2006, titled Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination, as "a monstrous piece of libelous junk. My parents were not the people he creates in this book, and I cannot understand why all of you who aided and abetted Gabler in writing this book, and who praise it and promote it, can do so without suffering serious qualms."